Home Office encouraged to reform superstar researcher visas

Professional bodies like the Royal Society and the British Academy are leading a Home Office reformation of the tier 1 visa route for exceptional talent, which was created in 2011 to ensure that any reduction in annual net migration would not affect the entrance of foreign researchers and the UK’s international ranking in research.

1000 of tier-1 visas are available each year but only 89 were granted by June 2013 because the Home Office received a low number of applications. Experts have indicated that the tier-1 visa route is not well understood and that applicants prefer the tier-2 route which ties them to a particular UK institution. The Home Office are currently investigating how to make the tier 1 route easier to use.

More information can be found here.